Sample Survey Data Analysis Plan

This part of the toolkit provides you with a template that you can use to create your own data analysis plan. As
discussed in the Survey Analysis Guidelines, you can use data analysis plan to keep your analysis organized. You can
create your data analysis plan in three steps using the template:
1) Write out a research question (left hand column);
2) Identify the survey question (or questions) that will help you answer a particular question (middle column); and
3) Plan how to use the data from that survey question(s) in order to answer the question you have set out for
yourself (right hand column).

The sample plan provided here uses the sample survey also provided in the toolkit to provide you with ideas about
how to go about linking survey questions to research questions, and what you might think about in making your
plans to slice and dice the data.

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 Research
Question, or: Using the Survey Question to Answer the Research Question,
Information the Survey Questions or:
Survey Can To Highlight Specific Information
Uncover
What does the Q1: Questions on For each of these demographic items, look at the distribution of
survey sample look gender, age, zip responses among the choices.
like? code, and household This first tells you the demographic profile of those who returned
How representative income the survey.
is the survey sample It is also a good idea to use this information to compare your sample
of the target with the demographics of the area, which are available from census
population? data. Please see the Market Sizing Instructions and Using Publically
Available Data sections of this tool kit for more specific information
about where to find that information and how to use it.
Understanding the extent to which your survey represents your
local plus 50 population will help you when you draw inferences
from the data. You can remind those who read the needs assessment
that this sample may under-represent or over-represent certain age
or gender groups.
What is the demand Q2: Which of the Look at the percentage of respondents that checked each answer
for workforce following are you option.
training and career interested in? Look first at how many checked either the first or the second
development response. This gives you an idea of what percentage of those in your
services? target population are interested in workforce development
programming. However, remember that if this survey was
administered on paper, this percentage is likely to be greater than
the true percentage since those who checked neither are less
likely to have gone to the trouble of turning in the survey.
Next look at the percentage of respondents checking courses or
services to understand their relative popularity.
Also run crosstabs to see what the overlap is what percentage of
the population wants both?

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 Research
Question, or: Using the Survey Question to Answer the Research Question,
Information the Survey Questions or:
Survey Can To Highlight Specific Information
Uncover
In what fields is the Q3: In which of the Look at the percentage of respondents that checked each answer
plus 50 population following fields do option. Rank them from high to low.
interested in you have an This highlights the fields that are the most popular among your
pursuing a career? interest? respondents.
This information
helps you decide
the fields in which
to develop
workforce training
courses.
What are the goals Q4: Which of the Look at the percentage of respondents that checked each answer
of plus 50 following would you option. Rank them from high to low.
population in taking like to pursue? The relative frequency with which each item is checked will tell you
courses: to upgrade whether respondents are interested in a program of courses leading
specific skills, or to to a credential or certificate, or whether they are more interested in
obtain a credential taking a few courses in order to upgrade some specific skills.
or certificate? The frequency with which people check the first option will tell you
what the need is for a specific type of course that helps plus 50
individuals become competitive in the workplace: a basic computer
course.
What are the Q5: Which of the Look at the percentage of respondents that checked each answer
barriers to taking following do you option. Rank them from high to low.
college courses, believe might be The frequency with which these items are checked will tell you
perceived by the obstacles to your about those things that might deter them from taking courses as the
plus 50 population? taking courses at college.
[name of community The more frequently something is identified as a barrier, the more
college]? you may want to take it into consideration when developing and
marketing your program.

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 Research
Question, or: Using the Survey Question to Answer the Research Question,
Information the Survey Questions or:
Survey Can To Highlight Specific Information
Uncover
What scheduling Q6: What time of Look at the percentage of people who check daytime vs.
works best for the day or week would evening, and weekday vs. weekend.
plus 50 population? you like to take You should also select just those respondents who checked
classes? weekday, and within that group look at the percentage that
checked daytime vs. evening. You should then do the same for
weekend (select only those checking weekend and look at the
percentage for daytime and evening).
Looking at these results will give you an idea of what type of
scheduling is the most convenient for your local plus 50 population.
Is the plus 50 Q7: How much time Look at the distribution of responses among the choices.
population willing per week would you Note that the respondents were allowed to check only one answer
to spend more be able to attend this tells us the most hours that people are willing to spend per
hours per week in classes? week in order to accelerate their progression.
class in order to Looking at these results will provide information that will help you
take accelerated decide on course length.
courses?
What delivery mode Q8: What delivery Look at the percentage of respondents that checked each answer
for classes is most mode of classes option. Rank them from high to low.
attractive to the would interest you? This will show you what delivery modes are most popular, and help
plus 50 population? you decide what mode(s) you will use in creating offerings for your
local plus 50 population.

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 Research
Question, or: Using the Survey Question to Answer the Research Question,
Information the Survey Questions or:
Survey Can To Highlight Specific Information
Uncover
What are the Q9: Please tell us Look at the percentage of respondents that checked each answer
employment needs about your current option. Rank them from high to low.
and goals of the career goals? Those who answered I am unemployed and want to find a job, or
plus 50 population? I have to go back to work, are those who are in the position of
Is the need needing employment and possibly having lost their jobs as a result
concentrated of the economic downturn. They will need career services focused
among those who on getting back into employment as soon as possible, and on
do not have a job keeping a positive attitude.
and need one, Those who answered I want to start or grow my own business will
among people who be most interested in services for entrepreneurs.
are looking to Those who provided other answers will be interested in services
advance their
that can help them figure out the right next steps to take in their
careers, or people
career such as career assessment.
who want to start a
business?
What specific Q10: Here is a list Look at the percentage of respondents that checked each answer
career services of services that can option. Rank them from high to low.
would the plus 50 be tailored This survey question builds on question #9, and shows what types
population find to specifically to the of services are likely to be the most popular.
be the most useful? needs and interests
of those 50 or
older? Which of the
following would you
use?

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 Research
Question, or: Using the Survey Question to Answer the Research Question,
Information the Survey Questions or:
Survey Can To Highlight Specific Information
Uncover
What are the Q11: What are you For each option in question 11, look at how answers are distributed
specific job search interested in among not very interested, interested, and extremely
skills that the plus learning about? interested.
50 population really You may find that there is little interest in starting a business or
needs? writing a cover letter, but a great deal of interest in using the
internet for a job search, or locating jobs to apply for. Information
such as this will help you to understand where it makes sense to
focus your career services.
Seeing that fairly large percentages check not very interested for
some items will help you know that programming in this area may
not be a good use of your resources (and this can be very useful
information, since resources are scarce).
What type of Q12: Career For each option in question 12, look at how answers are distributed
tailoring will make services can be among not very important, important, and extremely
the plus 50 tailored to those 50 important.
population feel and older in a The results will show how important specific types of tailoring are.
welcome? variety of ways. For example, respondents may care a lot about having access to
What are the ways brush-up classes, but they may care little about having staff on
that are personally site who are in their age group.
important to you?

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